adminthe R8 million winner-take-all showdown and the Zimbabweans are excited in featuring in the final of the cash-rich tournament.
Former Zimbabwe international, Kaitano Tembo, is the assistant coach at SuperSport United, who are also close to signing ex-Warriors’ skipper, Benjani Mwaruwari.
Both clubs have already announced that the players will pocket half of the amount, R4 million, should they triumph.
Now, R4 million for 25 or 30 players is quite a huge amount and the Cup has been correctly been dubbed Wafa Wafa.
The MTN8 is the richest knockout tournament in South Africa, and probably in Africa, if you take into consideration that teams just need to play two rounds of matches to reach the final.
Last year’s winners, Orlando Pirates, were knocked out in the semis by SuperSport while Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns also fell by the way side.
The tournament also has an exciting Last Fan Standing competition.
Tonight, MTN will reward the Last Fan Standing and ultimate South African Fan with a trip to watch El Clásico in Spain in 2012/13, plus R1-million in cash.
Speaking from their base in Johannesburg yesterday, Mapemba and Machapa said they were looking forward to the big match.
Machapa will have to pass a late fitness test.
“The physiotherapists have been working with me as l have an injury but will know my fate after the last training. We are going to win this Cup. The spirit in the
team is just phenomenal. Two seasons ago we lost in the final to Pirates on penalties, so we believe this time we will get it right.
“There is a lot of money at stake here and I cannot just imagine failing to win that money tomorrow evening,” said Machapa.
Machapa is one of few international players who has not been sidelined by the Asiagate scandal and has been featuring in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. He was part of the Warriors team which beat Angola 3-1 a fortnight ago. Mapemba, who has been sidelined from the national team because of the scandal, is also excited to feature in the Cup final.
He revealed that his last Cup match was when the Warriors won the Cosafa Cup on home soil in 2009 under Sunday Chidzambwa. He moved to Absa Premiership last season and has been consistently featuring for the Dube Birds.
“It feels good to be part of this team which is playing in the final. It is a good feeling really. I last played in a Cup final at the Cosafa tournament back home. Here, l remember playing in the Nedbank quarter-finals as we have never been successful in Cup games.
“Last season, we came close to winning the league, but we were piped by Pirates and it was heartbreaking. But we managed to regroup and the season has just started and we are on course for our first trophy. We learnt something from that experience and during the season had dropped some points which were not necessary but we are much tougher and stronger.
“The road to final has been tough as we played against Amazulu and Sundowns and l am happy l played in both matches. But through hard work we have managed
to reach the final and hope will carry us throughout the evening. Everyone wants to achieve something, and there is money, lots of it and we are just extra motivated,” said Mapemba.
The former Lengthens defender says it’s great playing alongside veterans such as Siyabonga Nomvethe and Lefa Tsutsulupa.
“I grew up watching Nomvethe playing for Bafana Bafana and now playing with him, it is a great feeling and l am learning one or two things.
“At Swallows you feel like you are just one big family with everyone getting along and tonight it would be just great if we lift the MTN8 Cup,” says Mapemba.
Online Reporter